A flower market in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 13: Flower prices are set to rise in the city thanks to the flood.

Swirling waters of the Mahanadi river and its tributaries have flooded the flower-growing areas such as Balipatna, Salepur, Athgarh and Khurda. Florists are fearing shortage of flowers for purposes ranging from offerings in temples to decoration of marriage venues.

“Common flowers such as marigold, rose (indigenous varieties) and tuberose are now coming from Bengal. While the exporters supply nearly 80 per cent flowers to the state, the local growers in the deltaic region of coastal Orissa provide the rest 20 per cent. Therefore, with floods affecting flower plantation, all 135 florists of the city will have to depend only on imports. This will increase flower prices,” said Bibhuti Bhusan Swain, proprietor of one Baba Panchalingeswar Florist at Surya Nagar.

A chain of marigold is sold at Rs 6 to Rs 8 in off-season. But after the downpour in Bengal during Janmastami and Ganesh puja, it climbed to Rs 25 to Rs 30 a chain. With the situation improving in Bengal and supply returning to normal, a single chain is now sold at Rs 8 to Rs 10. However, it may go up to Rs 10 to Rs 15 within a week with the local supply coming to a stop. Even small florists, who cannot get their share transported from Calcutta, will suffer as they depend on local supply.

Swain said a chain of tuberose (thick) was priced at Rs 30 to Rs 150 depending on how many small chains are included. The price might go up to Rs 50 to Rs 170 as the production in Ganjam was also affected owing to incessant rain. Ganjam is the major centre in the state to produce tuberose.

The common rose imported from Bengal is sold at Rs 300 per 100 and it may go up to Rs 450 or Rs 500 as the local supply here has stopped.

“However, exotic flowers such as Dutch rose, gerbera, orchid, carnation, lilium (both Asiatic and Oriental varieties) and anthurium are selling at their earlier prices as most of them are coming from Bangalore by air,” one of the florists said.

“Decorating our houses during pujas could be a costly affair as flood has affected all the major floriculture belts along the Mahanadi river. As marigold and tuberose are badly needed for a homely décor, the rise in flower price will hurt every household,” said Sujata Rath, a faculty with a city-based management institute. The florists said that during marriage or puja season the daily business by florists in the city touches Rs 10 - 15 lakh, but in the off-season, it comes down to Rs 2 - 4 lakh. Though there are 135 florists in the city, many close down their shutters during the off-season to adopt other vocations.